The Struggle is Real

I'll admit it — teaching time signatures has never been my favorite. It's one of those topics that feels just a little complicated for young learners. One day, a quarter note is one beat. The next day, I'm telling them, "Well, actually… it depends on the time signature." Cue the confused faces. 😵‍💫

As a result, I often found myself dancing around the topic. But I knew that needed to change. So, while sticking to the basics — a quarter note is one beat, focusing on 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4 — and acknowledging to the kids that things aren't absolute, I started looking for ways to bring time signatures into my lessons.

Here are two of my favorite go-to resources for turning this tricky concept into something my students have really come to enjoy.

🎭 Time Signature "This OR That" (Digital & No-Prep!)

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Sometimes all it takes is the right format to spark engagement. Students see a rhythm and choose between two time signatures to match the measure, with the game walking them through right and wrong answers as they go. It's zero-prep, has a comic-book theme kids genuinely love, and works well for whole class, sub plans, or quick practice.

🍕 Time Signature Pizza Matching Activity

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For a hands-on approach, this one's a go-to: each pizza has either a time signature or a set of rhythms, and students match the corresponding toppings onto the pizza. It's great for centers, independent work, or small groups, includes laminatable pages for dry-erase practice, and gets students really thinking about rhythm patterns.

So here's to stepping outside my comfort zone and making time signatures more exciting, interactive, and meaningful for my students. I hope you check them out and that they help you bring the concept into your own lessons.

Have a great week,
Joanna

AI in the Music Room

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to attend an exciting technology conference for educators, and let me tell you, it was fascinating! First of all, the majority of sessions I attended had AI at the center. I'm sure by now, most people have heard of ChatGPT and Gemini, but there is an enormous world of AI tools out there for educators. Most broad educational conferences don't focus on music, so I always have to search for ways to apply things to the field. But it wasn't hard to find ways to use what I learned in the music room.

Among the many cool tools I discovered, one that stood out was called UDIO — an AI-powered site that instantly creates songs based on your prompt. Naturally, I spent time playing around with it and thought it would be fun to show you a creation.

In each of my classes this week, we're having our Rockstar Celebration. Every class, my students know I'm looking for a "Rockstar" — someone following our Rockstar Rules. As they line up to leave, I announce the rockstar, they put a sticker on the class chart, and get to push the rockstar button while the class cheers their name. The excitement builds each time a student adds a sticker, and once the chart is full, the whole class gets a Rockstar Celebration Day.

For this year's celebration, I decided to use UDIO to create a song specifically for my students. Here's what I did:

1. Told UDIO I wanted a song for elementary music students (grades K–4) about reaching the Rockstar Celebration.
2. Described the qualities of a rockstar: work hard, be kind to classmates and teacher, raise your hand and wait to be called on, listen to and follow directions, respect all instruments.
3. Chose hip-hop as the style and clicked Generate.

Have you thought about using AI in the music room?

Have a great week,
Joanna

A Classic

I don't know about you, but I absolutely adore the children's book "The Snowy Day" and could probably craft lessons around it for an entire month. Children are fascinated with this classic story for a reason, and I love watching their faces light up when they see the cover.

I do tons of activities with "The Snowy Day" (acting, scarves, instruments) with my younger students (K–1), but wanted a way to keep it relevant and revisit the book with my older ones — knowing they benefit from revisiting books — so I decided to make a Google Slides rhythm game with it to keep the fun going.

❄️ The Snowy Day: A Rhythm Matching Game

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This interactive game makes learning and reviewing rhythms a blast (quarter, half, eighth notes + quarter rest). With simple, clear instructions and suggestions for extensions — like I said, I could use this book for a whole month! — this activity is certain to delight and excite your students.

I've included a bonus activity for retelling and enhancing the story with instruments. If you opt to play on a more advanced instrument like recorder or ukulele, your older students will be transported to their younger days and find renewed joy in a story they used to love.

Don't wait to bring the magic of "The Snowy Day" to your elementary music classroom!

Have a great week,
Joanna

Unpopular Opinion

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope your winter break was as restful and fun as mine. I got to spend time with family, enjoy long walks on the beach, and completely check out from all things work-related. It was awesome.

And now I'm home getting ready to return to the classroom. While it's tough to make the mental shift back to work, I'm excited to return — because I get to start teaching recorder to my 3rd graders. That's right: I LOVE teaching the recorder. Yup, I said it!

So why would anyone say this? For starters, it always melts my heart to see how excited kids are to get this instrument in their hands. Secondly, I have an approach to teaching it that's fun (for them and me) and foolproof: my Rockin' Recorders course.

🎶 Rockin' Recorders: The Only Method Guide You'll Ever Need

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A few reasons why it's awesome: kids don't squeak when they play, since it focuses on attainable articulation. Every note has a memorable poem and trick for finger position, so students find success quickly. It blends with Orff and Kodály methodologies, with extensions to add in Orff instruments. And it's modern and appealing to kids, with built-in differentiation.

Whether you're a newer teacher who doesn't know how to get started, or a total pro looking to change up your resources, this scaffolded course is a one-stop shop for your entire recorder program — available in both a low-tech printable version and a Google Slides digital version.

Hope your first week back is great!

Joanna

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! 🎄

Oh wow, here we go again! It feels like I just sat down to write about my October sure fire hits, and somehow we're already gearing up for December. Time flies when you're making music!

December is one of the most magical months in the music room, but it's also incredibly busy. Between winter concert prep and engaging students with meaningful seasonal activities, it can feel like a whirlwind. If you're like me, you're juggling it all and trying to make time for those special December-themed lessons that students absolutely love.

Here's my updated list of December music room favorites (with links!). I won't get to everything—there's simply not enough time in the three weeks before break—but it's great to have options to keep students excited and engaged during this festive season.

Keeping Focused in December

My students have strong opinions about their favorite December activities, and I've learned to use that to my advantage. I start each class with concert rehearsal (priorities!), and then we move on to seasonal activities afterwards. This system works wonders for engagement and classroom management.

Hanukkah

• Hanukkah Resources from My Store — I haven't always found a ton of authentic Hanukkah activities so I decided to make some myself: Hanukkah Rhythms: A Rhythm Matching Game, Hanukkah Recorder Bundle: S'vivon & The Dreidel Song, and more Write the Room, Kaboom!, solfege, and music math activities in my TPT store.
• Puppy for Hanukkah — Still the most requested song of the year! Students ask for this gem by Daveed Diggs year-round, and it's a perfect way to celebrate Hanukkah in the music room.
• The Dreidel Song — We sing this classic in progressively challenging ways, culminating with a tennis ball rhythm challenge where you only sing (and bounce) on specific words: Dreidel → Dreidel + Clay → Dreidel + Clay + Play → Dreidel + Clay + Play + I → Whole song. So.Much.Fun.
• The Maccabeats — Their version of The Dreidel Song is a student favorite and a great opportunity to showcase a cappella singing, musical genres, and creativity.
• Gameplan Favorites — Burn Little Candles, Dance for Hanukkah, Zemer Atik, It's Hanukkah Tonight, and Hanukkah is Here bring movement and instruments into the mix.

Christmas

Celebrate Christmas in the Music Room GROWING BUNDLE

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• Christmas Resources from My Store (I've got TONS!) — my Celebrate Christmas in the Music Room Growing Bundle continues to expand — regardless of what you pay when you purchase, any new activities added after you've bought are yours for FREE! There are (currently) 10 products in this bundle, but I have to say, I'm particularly partial to the stocking stuffer game! It's kind of like "Feed the Monster" — play the rhythm (or note on recorder) and add the present to the stocking. So cute. There are also games like Christmas Write the Room, I Have…Who Has…, Jolly Old St. Nicholas on recorder (a NO-PREP recorder Google Slides lesson with measure by measure guidance), Christmas Compositions, Christmas Rhythm Matching Games for Google Slides, and MORE!
• Cray Cray Christmas — This Quaver hit keeps students engaged all the way to dismissal.
• The Nutcracker — A perennial favorite! I love to start with a Trepak video from the Boston Ballet then go into activities like a dance routine from the 4th grade Gameplan book, YouTube percussion play-alongs, a boomwhacker play-along for Trepak (and Somewhere in My Memory — not Nutcracker but everyone loves a "Home Alone" connection), and Duke Ellington's Nutcracker in Harlem for a jazzy twist.
• Holiday Fun from the Kindergarten Gameplan book — I literally have 4th graders that ask to play this game (it's kind of like a progressive version of "Memory"): spread out ten holiday cards upside down, remove one each round, and students have to figure out which cards are missing. Good luck to the last kid (I always offer the "phone a friend" option)!

Kwanzaa

• Kwanzaa Read-Aloud — Introduce the holiday with a book or video (there's a good one on BrainPop Jr.) and invite students to share their family traditions.
• The Kwanzaa Song — This song from Quaver is always something my kids love singing along to.

Balancing It All

December is packed and I can't cover everything. But, I always try to incorporate as much variety as possible. It's important to me to ensure that my students all feel seen and that they learn about celebrations from cultures beyond their own (this is one of my goals all year long, not just this month). So whether we're singing, playing instruments, moving, or listening, my goal is to celebrate the season while preparing them for their upcoming performances.

So…what are YOUR plans this December?!

Good luck out there!
Joanna

🦃 Surviving November in the Music Room with Thanksgiving Centers!

Hello and Happy November!

We're entering that whirlwind stretch in the elementary music classroom! Halloween's behind us, and with Veterans Day around the corner, Thanksgiving and concert season aren't far behind. It's a wonderful, high-energy time, and one of the best ways to channel that energy (while saving your sanity!) is with Thanksgiving-themed centers.

Centers are small group activities that can run themselves once directions are clear, giving students a hands-on, engaging experience. They're fantastic for maintaining focus, and I love using this setup as a chance to observe and assess (hello, progress reports!)—often without students realizing! I usually set rotations to 5-6 minutes, letting each activity's timer help manage the flow.

With centers, kids get to enjoy the excitement of November in a structured way, and the game-like format keeps their enthusiasm high. Plus, with the variety of activities, there's always something new to keep them engaged!

Want to give centers a try, but not sure what activities to use? Don't worry—I've got you covered. Here are TEN suggestions that provide a nice balance:

1. Thanksgiving Rhythms for Music: Sort, Compose, Notate, Match

View on TPT →

2. Thanksgiving Music Compositions
3. Thanksgiving Music Rhythms KABOOM
4. Piece of Pie (aka Feed the Monster)
5. Kindness Rhythms & Composition Cards
6. Thanksgiving Music Math Worksheets
7. Gobble, Gobble: The Solfege Bundle
8. Thanksgiving Write the Room Bundle
9. Thanksgiving Rhythms: A Rhythm Matching Game for Google Slides
10. Celebrate Thanksgiving in the Music Room GROWING BUNDLE: Compose, Notate, Play!

(Note: a "Growing Bundle" means any resources added after purchase you automatically receive at no additional cost!)

Let's get some Thanksgiving centers started and make November a month to be thankful for in the classroom! 🦃

Stay sane!
Joanna

Anyone Want S'mores?

If you've been here before, you know that I'm all about creating versatile resources that make learning music fun and memorable for the kids, and easy to implement for the teacher. This new set of S'mores theory worksheets is something I'm especially excited to share because it combines so many things in one, easy, no-prep place: engaging activities, adorable visuals, and instructions guaranteed to make any elementary student smile.

If you've used my resources before, you'll know I'm always aiming to make music theory approachable—and this series really does it all. From learning note names in treble and bass clefs to rhythm values and dynamics, every worksheet is packed with creativity and flexibility. Use them for whole-class lessons, centers, assessments, or just to warm up your students' brains! The funny instructions are certain to bring on a smile, and you'll find each section offers something new to keep your students curious and engaged.

S'mores Elementary Music Theory Worksheet Bundle

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What's Inside? Here's a sneak peek of what your students will be diving into:

• Treble & Bass Clefs: Learn note names in a way that sticks, with "Create Your Own Trick" activities and matching games.
• Dynamics: Hands-on activities help kids master ppp to fff
• Notes and Rests: With marshmallow shading, matching, and rhythm addition games, rhythm basics have never been more engaging.
• Lines & Spaces: Whether they're identifying notes as s'mores or campfires, this section is all about making lines and spaces understandable!

I can't wait for you and your students to dive into these s'mores sheets and experience theory in a whole new way.

Buy them individually or bundle and save! It's as low-prep and easy as it gets: just download, print, or share digitally, and you're good to go.

Have a great week,
Joanna

Sure Fire Hits

October is one of my favorite months in the music room! By now, routines are in place, students are comfortable, and it's the perfect time to introduce some exciting new activities. This year, I've got some fresh resources to share, along with a few tried-and-true hits that my students love. Here's what's happening in my classroom this month:

Classroom Favorites

1. In the Hall of the Mountain King — From rhythm playalongs to Boomwhackers and even a "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" version, this timeless piece is always a favorite. You can find great play along videos on YouTube to use with your class.

2. Pumpkin Bones — Thanks to Quaver, this catchy tune continues to be a hit with my students every October! You can even watch the original without a Quaver subscription on YouTube along with, you guessed it: rhythm play alongs.

3. Skin and Bones — Close the blinds, dim the lights, and sing this spooky classic. I like to add some tremolos and melodic patterns on the boniest instrument in the music room: xylophone! You can easily find the song with a quick search.

4. Pass the Flying Pumpkin Round — A festive twist on games like "Doggie, Doggie" or "Pass the Broom," this song is a favorite in my classroom and kids ask to play it on repeat.

Centers

My students love getting hands-on and working together in centers. Below are some favorites along with two brand-new ones just added this year!

NEW: Halloween Rhythms (Quarter + Eighth Notes): Sort, Compose, Notate, Match

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This versatile set of Halloween-themed rhythm activities is perfect for introducing the concept of quarter and eighth notes. Whether you use it for centers, individual work, or even sub plans, it's designed to engage students at a variety of levels.

NEW: Halloween Music Math Worksheets: Basic Music Addition — Add a spooky twist to rhythm recognition! Students will practice adding beats for eighth, quarter, half, dotted half, and whole notes, all while solving Halloween-themed problems featuring ghosts, jack-o-lanterns, and more.

Halloween Candy Compositions — This one is a TPT bestseller! It involves composing music with candy rhythms. It's a hands on, print-and-go activity where students practice reading, notating, and performing rhythms (quarter notes/rests, + eighth notes). It also comes with suggestions on how to extend (like having students perform on Orff instruments)!

Halloween Write the Room — This rhythm-based scavenger hunt is always a hit and absolutely one of my students' favorite activities! Place rhythm cards around the room for students to find, then notate the rhythms on recording sheets and transfer onto instruments (optional). It gets everyone up and moving and is great for practicing notation.

Halloween Candy Rhythms Game (Google Slides) — These no-prep, interactive Google Slides matching games let students practice identifying rhythms while matching them to candy names. With two levels of difficulty, this activity works for whole-class play or independent work on individual devices.

Pumpkin Themed Treble & Bass Clef Matching Games — Students will love matching notes on the treble and bass clefs with this pumpkin-themed puzzle game. It's perfect for centers or individual work and comes in both color and black-and-white versions for easy printing and laminating.

Believe it or not, there are even more Halloween activities in my TPT store! Go check them out and make your October lessons a sure fire hit!

Have a great week,
Joanna

Uke Can Do It!

Refreshed and Better Than Ever!

About ten years ago, I set a summer goal to learn to play the ukulele. Thanks to Cynthia Lin and her YouTube channel, I found a new instrument that I adored. Even with only a few chords under my belt, I knew that I wanted to incorporate this instrument into my elementary music classes. My school was generous and allowed me to take the risk and pilot a small ukulele program.

Fast forward about seven years to the very different summer of 2020, where I found myself bracing to start school remotely, having to plan to somehow teach music (and active music making, at that) to elementary students over Zoom.

Since singing together on Zoom was a no-go thanks to the delays, I had to get creative. In a fortuitous twist of fate, since no curriculum I found was hitting the sweet spot with my students, I had already started writing my own digital, ukulele curriculum. Again, I went to my school with a proposal to send ukuleles to our students and was given the green light.

I'll spare you the logistics of putting together the packages with tuners and colored sticker dots for finger placement, and the distribution during the height of the pandemic. And I'll save the stories of the unforeseen challenges of teaching with a reversed image and trying to explain rights and lefts to kids that were still learning rights and lefts.

Joanna Teaches Music, my TPT store, and my "Uke Can Do It" Google Slides curriculum are some of the unpredictable bright spots that came out of the pandemic. In 2022, I added my uke curriculum to my TPT store.

Never happy to settle, I have continued to use and tweak this curriculum and I'm so excited to share that I just gave it a refresh! I am currently using it with my third and fourth graders and can proudly and confidently say: it's really awesome.

So, what's new?

Uke Can Do It! A Beginner's Course for the Ukulele

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• Revised Introduction: I updated which points in the history and background of the ukulele that I felt were important to highlight. They'll learn about the origins of the instrument, how it got its name, about its ebbs and flows in popularity over time, famous players, and different types of ukuleles—they'll be hooked from the start.
• Visual Refresh: The curriculum now boasts fresh new colors and graphics, giving it a modern and appealing look that your students will love.
• New Content: There are some additional pages that include solfege melodies for songs that students may be less familiar with, making it easier to introduce those tunes in a simple, memorable way.
• Celebrate Success: At the end of the guide, you'll find a special congratulations slide to celebrate your students' progress, boosting their confidence as they complete this first, major step on their ukulele journey.

So, what's the same? All the things that made it stand out from the beginning.

• Detailed visuals: My favorite is my clever trick to remember the order of the strings—let's just say: gone are days of "My Dog Has Fleas"
• Holding and positioning: Tried and true tips and phrases to use to cue your students, along with a variety of ways to strum
• Chord charts: A clear, methodical break down how to read a chord chart, as well as introduction of chords in a logical and progressive way that elementary students understand
• Songs: Simple, childhood songs to practice, all of which can be extended and leveled up by the introduction of varying strumming patterns

I never imagined that a summer goal of learning the ukulele would lead to such a rewarding and creative journey. From piloting a small program to navigating the challenges of remote teaching, the ukulele has become an integral part of my music curriculum and my students' musical experience.

I'm so proud of how "Uke Can Do It" has evolved, and I can't wait to see it continue to inspire more young musicians. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me — let's keep strumming and making music together!

Have a great week,
Joanna

Happy Fall, Y'all

I love that it's finally feeling like fall! Sweaters in the am, humidity dissipating, and pumpkin spice is back on the menus.

I'm super excited to share with you my latest autumn-themed music activity–I really think your students are going to love it! 🍁 These rhythm exercises are perfect for introducing and reinforcing quarter and eighth notes in an easy to use and fun way.

Starting with the basics of breaking words into syllables and leveling up from there (dots, stick, traditional notation) you can use this singular resource with multiple grade levels or differentiate within a given class.

It's designed to adapt to individual work or centers, is an assessment and can be left with a sub (musical or not). How's that for versatile?!

While my students love to work with manipulatives, I can't always dedicate the time for cutting. This activity can be split into different days to accommodate your schedule. Need something quick and quiet: paper and pencil. Want to have them practice their compositions on instruments–break out the percussion!

Here's what's inside:

Autumn Rhythms for Music: Sort, Compose, Notate, Match

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• Rhythm sorting, matching, and notation pages (syllables, dots, stick and traditional notation)
• Composition pages (4- and 8-beat word chains)
• Specific teacher and student instructions

Check it out here and let the fun begin! Let me know if you try it in your classroom—I'd love to hear how it goes!

Have a great week,
Joanna

How to Motivate Yourself for BTS in July

This post is a double edged sword: it's still early July, feels like summer has barely started, and I'm finally adjusting to the slower rhythm of break. On the other hand, I have this ongoing to-do list in the back of my head: choose books to turn into performance pieces, orchestrate songs for various grade levels, select repertoire for concerts, develop lesson plans, create games for centers, and on and on it goes.

Sometimes, those bigger tasks require more effort than I can put forth at the moment. So instead, I'm going to focus on classroom decor: creating the vibe of my classroom for the upcoming year. I usually find that this gets me excited about the year and helps me stop procrastinating those bigger (and more important) projects. It also gets my creative juices flowing!

Whether you're a type A, organized teacher or someone who is surrounded by stacks of paper, having colorful walls with multi-purpose posters, organized bins (for student autonomy, if nothing else!) I've got you covered.

Here are a few of the posters I'm excited to tack up on my walls this year:

Dynamics Posters (Tropical Beach Theme)

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• Pop of Color Note Names in Treble and Bass Clef Posters: Make music literacy a breeze with clear and colorful visuals
• Multi-Skin Tone Solfege Posters: Representation matters! Celebrate diversity and inclusivity with these beautiful posters
• ABCs Music Posters: Connect music to language skills with engaging alphabet posters
• Growth Mindset Posters: Reframe those negative thoughts with perseverance and positivity!
• Pop of Color Music Symbol Posters: Make musical symbols second nature
• Arctic Animals Instrument Posters: Introduce students to the fascinating world of orchestral instruments
• Dynamics Posters (above): my fave — tropical and right in my line of sight all year long
• Baby Animals Tempo Posters: Let the pace and create a sense of musicality with these tempo posters

As you can see, there's something for everyone here, and starting with decor is a very gentle way to ease your way out of summer and back to school. Go check it out and have fun dreaming about creating an awesome classroom for your kiddos.

Have a great week,
Joanna

May Madness Meltdown? Not on my watch!

Alrighty music teachers 🎶 — you've made it to the middle of May! My guess is you're likely in some combination of testing and/or concert prep while the kids are probably a little spring-bonkers. Am I right?

Here are some high-mileage activities to save your sanity in these May weeks (all linked here, but use the search bar on the left side of my TPT store and you can filter and see everything you're looking for):

Games 🎉

• I Have…Who Has…
• Kaboom! — so many types of Kabooms!
• OO-NO (Uno)

Quarter-Half-Eighth-Whole-Rest (aka Taco-Cat-Goat-Cheese-Pizza, but musical!)

View on TPT →

• Royal War
• Go Fish
• Play Ball

Print and Go 🙌

• Write the Rooms (pick your category) — Rhythm, Solfege, Treble clef note names — these are great to get kids up and moving and also work as a centers rotation
• Roll a Rhythm
• Roll a Note
• Composition Packets (choose your theme) — Pizza, Garden, Games, Summer

Digital (NO-PREP)

• Instruments of the Orchestra (Lesson + Game)
• Candy Rhythms
• Treble Clef This or That
• Time Signature This or That

Check 'em out and let your final weeks be a breeze!

Have a great week!
Joanna

Summer is Coming!

I know it's only May, but my students are wild with spring fever with summer just around the corner. So instead of fighting it, why not channel that excitement into something creative and musical? This Summer-Themed Composition Packet is your one-stop resource for keeping your students engaged and continuing their musical growth in a fun way, even as the school year winds down.

This no-prep, print-and-go activity allows students to compose their own 16-beat summer pieces, all while practicing essential rhythmic skills like reading and notating quarter notes, rests, and even beamed eighths! It's a win-win for fostering creativity and musical development.

Here's what makes this packet a summertime hit:

• Sunshine Melodies: Students become composers, creating their own summer-inspired masterpieces!
• Engaging Practice: This hands-on activity keeps them actively involved and learning, all under the warm glow of summer vibes.
• Substitute-Friendly: Crystal-clear instructions and a variety of activities make this a lifesaver for unexpected absences.

Summer-Themed Rhythm Composition Packet

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What's Included:

• Differentiated Cut & Paste Rhythms: 16 different summer-themed rhythm patterns with corresponding words
• Composition Page: students use their chosen rhythms to create their own unique 16-beat summer composition
• Decode the Rhythm: students figure out the corresponding rhythm for 16 different summer words
• Summer Word Bank Composition: another opportunity for creativity, writing a new musical piece
• Summertime Match Up: a cut-and-paste activity matching rhythms with corresponding summer images

Download this Summer-Themed Composition Packet today and bring the joy of music composition to your classroom! Watch your students become sizzling young musicians, ready to rock the summer months!

Have a great week,
Joanna

Garden Compositions

Well, I don't know about you, but my spring has been a whirlwind! When things get busy like this, I like to have some print and go activities at my fingertips. So, just in time for planting season, I bring you: Garden Compositions!

With this packet, you will be able to nurture your students' creativity while also reinforcing essential rhythmic skills. This resource is full of engaging activities that will have your students composing their own, garden themed musical masterpieces!

It's no-prep, print-and-go and caters to a variety of learning styles. Here's what makes it a winner for both teachers and students:

Garden-Themed Rhythm Composition Packet

View on TPT →

• Sprouting Creativity: Students get to unleash their inner composer by creating their own 16-beat garden-themed pieces.
• Engaging Practice: Forget boring worksheets! This hands-on activity keeps students actively involved while they develop their rhythmic skills.
• Substitute Superhero: Clear instructions and a variety of activities make it a breeze for substitutes or unexpected absences.

What's Included: Differentiated Cut & Paste Rhythms, a Composition Page (unique 8-measure garden piece), Decode the Rhythm, and a Guided Word Bank Composition.

This Garden-Themed Composition Packet is more than just a classroom activity – it's a springboard for creativity, musical growth, and pure enjoyment!

Grab your copy today and watch your students blossom into confident young musicians! P.S. Don't forget to check out the video preview to see more details about what's included.

Have a great week!
Joanna

Spring Fever

Spring is a time for renewal, growth, and well, maybe a little springtime fever in the classroom! Keeping young musicians engaged during this transition can be tricky, but what if you could combine the joy of spring with essential music theory practice? Enter this Spring themed Treble Clef Write the Room!

This isn't your average worksheet. Write the Room transforms your classroom into a springtime scavenger hunt for musical knowledge. Students become music detectives, searching for colorful note cards hidden around the room. Each card features a spring theme and either a single note or a three-note word written on the treble clef staff.

Treble Clef Write the Room (Spring Themed)

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Here's what makes Write the Room a game-changer:

• Engaging & Active: Learning never felt so much like fun! Students are up and moving, searching for clues while reinforcing their treble clef knowledge.
• Multiple Difficulty Levels: Cater to all your learners with cards featuring a combination of numbers & images, images only, or even challenging three-note word puzzles.
• Treble Clef Mastery in Disguise: As students write down the notes or note-words they find, they're solidifying their understanding of the treble clef staff (from Middle C to High F).
• A Breeze for Busy Teachers: The included answer key makes grading a snap, and the variety of recording sheet options allows for easy differentiation.
• Bonus Blooms: Keep those early finishers happy with two adorable spring coloring pages!

So, ditch the traditional worksheets and watch your students blossom into music superstars with this engaging and educational activity. Spring has sprung, and so will their musical knowledge!

Have a great week,
Joanna

Teaching Time Signature

I won't lie, I feel like teaching this concept is always a little tricky. Perhaps it's because it isn't absolute. A quarter note isn't always one beat and the idea of half a beat is often 🤯.

Confession: because of this (and because there is so much to teach), I often don't spend much time teaching the topic. There, I said it.

However, since this isn't helping anyone (including me and my guilt!), I created a some new games to help me tackle it.

Time Signature "This OR That"

Time Signature "This OR That"

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A no-prep, Google Slides game that is guaranteed to deliver understanding and excitement! Students will practice identifying time signatures by determining which time signature matches the measure of rhythms. It's comic book themed, which, in my experience, tends to get everyone zoned in and focused. This activity is simple to implement and also works as a great lesson to leave with a sub!

Time Signature Pizza Matching Activity

Time Signature Pizza Matching Activity

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This one is designed with versatility in mind. Want a centers rotation? This fits the bill! Looking for some independent work? No problem! Print off the way you want to implement the activity (there are clear directions for prep and teaching for both centers and individual work).

No matter how you decide to use it, the concept remains the same: students practice recognizing time signatures by matching pizza toppings (each with rhythms on them) to the corresponding pizza (featuring the time signature). 🍕🎵 There are different size pizzas (small, medium, large) to allow for measures with fewer or more rhythms. There are even bonus pages that, if you laminate, can be used with expo markers to allow for students to compose their own measures and determine the time signature. Again, I'm all about versatility.

So, wish me luck as I lean into something a little outside my comfort zone.

Happy teaching!
Joanna

4 New Activities

I've been a busy bee recently and wanted to share some new resources that are absolutely perfect for this meatier time of year: the time that follows the bustle of the winter holidays, but precedes the wind up to the insanity that the end-of-year, spring season brings.

Valentine's Day Rhythms Level 2 (A Google Slides Matching Game)

Valentine's Day is THIS WEEK! Just in time for the big day, this game is the perfect step up from Level 1, using slightly longer phrases and incorporating more rhythms. It's no-prep and will have your students reading, matching, chanting, and playing rhythms (dotted half, half, eighth, quarter notes + quarter and half rests) while filling your classroom with warmth and kind sayings.

Personally, I find games on Valentine's Day to be the way to go: the kids are usually a little over-excited and it allows you to lean into their enthusiasm, rather than trying to put a lid on it. This game will keep them learning and focused while still centering the holiday!

Make a Pizza

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Okay, this one is just so stinking cute, I can't stand it. BUT, it comes with a warning: You might have to have pizza for dinner! My 2nd graders have been working on learning the note names in treble clef, so I made this activity as an additional centers rotation for them. Essentially, students match the toppings (letters A-G) to the notes on the staff written on each pizza. There are single notes and words spelled out. A great way to differentiate or level up!

Treble-Bass-Flat-Sharp-Repeat

I made this one because my students are obsessed with Quarter-Half-Eighth-Whole-Rest. These are both played the same way as Taco-Cat-Goat-Cheese-Pizza, but reinforce different elements of music theory. They already know how to play and it's one of my most requested activities…of all time!

Vocal Pitch Explorations: A Toy Story Google Slides Warm-Up

Last, but certainly not least, vocal pitch explorations are essential for healthy singing. Each slide features an iconic Toy Story character quote and inspires your young singers to make sliding sounds that explore the vocal muscles used to sing in their upper register. This resource is great for any grade level, but is something I plan to use with my youngest singers the most.

In my experience, using pitch exploration as a warm-up helps students develop familiarity with the feeling of transitioning between their registers, assists those that have a harder time finding their singing voice, strengthens their upper register, and improves their ability to match pitch consistently.

Have a great week and spread some love!
Joanna

Sweetheart Sale!

This post refers to a limited-time TPT storewide sale that has since ended — kept here for the archive.

Get ready to crank up the excitement in your music classroom because the TPT sweetheart SALE is here! 🎉 Score a rocking 20% off EVERYTHING on February 6-7!

🎶 Don't miss out – dive straight into the fun in my TPT store. This is your golden ticket to elevate your elementary music game!

Spice up your lessons with awesome games like:

Quarter-Half-Eighth-Whole-Rest

View on TPT →

• Treble-Bass-Flat-Sharp-Repeat

Dive into full-throttle curriculums with:

• Rockin' Recorders
• Uke Can Do It!

Save BIG on bundled goodies:

• The Treble Clef Bundle
• Music Centers Growing Bundle
• A KABOOM Bundle
• Valentine's Day Music Activity Bundle

– and there's SO much more to explore! This sale is a jam you don't want to miss.

Happy teaching!
Joanna

January Class Favorites

January is such a rich month in my music room. With concerts out of the way, I really feel like I get to dive into meaty activities. After Anthems, the content varies between the grades, but here are some activities that my students adore in the month of January.

Quarter-Half-Eighth-Whole-Rest

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This game is new to my room, but is without a doubt the new class favorite (move over, Kaboom!). If you have ever played the card game Taco-Cat-Goat-Cheese-Pizza, then you know how this goes. It's the same idea, but musical. I did it as a centers rotation with third grade and, let's just say that after that class I printed out, laminated, and cut an extra deck because the students that didn't make it to the rotation were devastated (we ran outta time!).

How to Play: Deal the cards evenly among players. Players take turns placing a card face-up in the main pile, announcing the terms in order ("Quarter", "Half", "Eighth", "Whole", "Rest"...) until a card matches the word spoken — then everyone SLAPs the pile. The last player to slap takes the whole pile. There are special cards (Violin, Drum, Trumpet) that trigger specific actions before slapping. The goal is to be first to get rid of your cards.

Royal War

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While we're on the topic of card games I had to make more than one copy of… Meet: Royal War. Growing up, this game was called Egyptian Rat Screw — it follows similar rules, but uses musical symbols instead of a traditional deck. The royals are the notes: Quarter Note = Jack, Half Note = Queen, Dotted Half Note = King, Whole Note = Ace. The repetition of turning over royal cards drills in the rhythmic values of the notes and helps students internalize and think faster on their feet.

The Snowy Day

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Another January highlight (particularly appropriate for this week) is this classic children's story. I love using books as launch points for activities in my classroom and this one is so rich. I tend to do this with my Kindies and 1st graders — first a read-through where the kids just listen, then a pantomime read, then non-pitched instruments, then Orff instruments, then improvised accompaniment. Still not tired of the story, we play the Snowy Day Google Slides game, where students click the number matching the rhythm from the book — zero prep on your part!

Is that everything for January? No — there's recorder, ukulele, Secret Pizza Party, and more. For another day! Thanks for sticking with me to the end, and enjoy your Snowy Day!

Joanna

Anthems

Happy New Year! While I'm definitely feeling restored after some needed time off over winter break, January is not my favorite month. Shout out to my mom, who instilled in me a dislike for the top of the year: it's cold, gray, and oh-so-far away from consistently warm temps. While the chill of the month and taking down holiday decorations isn't something I love, I find the month of January in the music room to be one of my favorites. There's just nothing but time — no performances to prep for, no racing to squeeze in all the celebrations and traditions. Less pressure, more meat.

I always begin January the same way: gushing over the winter performance, recapping something fun from winter break (going around and patting the beat), and then — Anthems.

Many, many years ago I started a tradition of singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing" as a community for our MLK assembly. We talk about how it was adopted as the Black National Anthem by the NAACP in 1919, the history of this important song, the significance of the words and meaning of the lyrics, and how our understanding of them has evolved and continues to change to this day.

We listen to two very different performances and discuss how, musically, each elevates the meaning of the words in completely different ways — one leads to conversations about the BLM movement and George Floyd protests (things these kids remember, saw with their own eyes), the other centers around musical decisions and how they affect the listener's feelings.

We talk about Rosa Parks, her bravery, and the unjust laws that were changed as a result — connecting a musical moment (a fermata held past its written value on the word "brought") to the idea of unity and hope in the face of uncertainty.

Students are always moved listening to this song. They ask to hear it again and again. We sing it and they work on their dynamics and accents, noting key words. Over the years, I've listened to and performed this song hundreds of times, and I feel my feels every single time — and I let my students know this.

Following "Lift Every Voice and Sing," we focus on "Rise Up" by Andra Day, a song that became a protest anthem connected to the BLM movement. We talk about Andra Day as an artist, her inspiration for the song, and persevering during hard times — and watch a video of a young figure skater improvising a performance to it on Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, DC.

Whether you plan to teach these songs or not, please enjoy watching these videos on repeat. Send them to someone you know — share it widely, as, historically, music has been passed on from one generation to the next.

Thanks for making it to the end. Check back for some January highlights soon!
Joanna

December Centers

If your December is anything like mine, you might be feeling a touch overwhelmed. I am not joking when I tell you that I made a spreadsheet the other night to coordinate times and iron out logistics for all the upcoming celebrations, performances, field trips, and events this month. And…it's not even technically December yet!!!

So, with that said, if you're feeling like you need some high mileage, low-stress, and easy to implement lesson plans to take you through these next few weeks, I've got just the solution for you: C-E-N-T-E-R-S.

Write the Room

Christmas Write the Room

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This is always a hit! You place the numbered/symboled cards around your classroom and students search for the matches. Once they have found them, they write the rhythms on the recording sheet. This can be extended to have students practice performing the rhythms (body percussion, non-pitched instruments, Orff, recorder, etc.). I have winter, Hanukkah, and Christmas versions so you're totally covered!

Snowglobe Music Match Ups

Besides being completely adorable, this matching activity instantly engages kids. Students match the note name/music symbol to create a completed treble or bass clef snowglobe (or music symbols). BONUS: if you are not allowed to celebrate holidays at school, this is excellent — nothing about any specific holidays, just winter-y snowmen!

Holiday Matching Games

These are new, and frankly, my students are obsessed. I have several different versions: Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas (rhythm and recorder). My students delighted in the Thanksgiving pie one — trying to stack every slice of pie to the big one. I can't wait to break out the latkes and stockings!

Holiday Music Math

These are super easy, low-prep, quiet centers. Print out copies, students decode the symbols (ex: dreidel is a quarter note = 1 beat) and add up the rhythms! Hanukkah Music Math · Christmas Music Math

Coloring Worksheets

Kids love to color! These are freebies — print and enjoy: Hanukkah Coloring Page, Christmas Coloring Page.

Stay sane this December!!
Joanna

December Class Favorites

Oh boy, here we go! I feel like I just sat down to write my October class favorites post. How are we already to December?!

December is such a magical time in the music room, but it's also an incredibly hectic and harried time. My students have very strong opinions about their favorite December activities, and I use that to my advantage — the more on-task they are during concert rehearsal, the more we get to do afterward.

HANUKKAH

Hands down, my most requested song of the entire year is Puppy for Hanukkah — students ask for it in September, March, May, doesn't matter. With The Dreidel Song, we sing it six times through, singing on fewer words each round, then bounce tennis balls on the specific words. So much fun. I also made some of my own resources since authentic Hanukkah activities are hard to find:

• Hanukkah Rhythm Game for Centers
• Hanukkah Music Math Worksheets
• Hanukkah Rhythms: A Rhythm Matching Game
• Hanukkah Write the Room
• Hanukkah Music Rhythms KABOOM
• Celebrate Hanukkah in the Music Room BUNDLE

CHRISTMAS

The song Cray Cray Christmas is highly requested — I typically play it as they're lining up to leave. And The Nutcracker's Trepak is the one I gravitate toward each year, from percussion play-alongs to Boomwhacker tracks. I've built a whole growing bundle of Christmas resources:

• Celebrate Christmas in the Music Room BUNDLE (currently nine products, growing bundle — free future additions!)
• Christmas Rhythms: The Bundle
• Christmas Music Composition Packet
• Christmas Write the Room
• I Have…Who Has… Christmas Rhythm Game
• Jolly Old St. Nicholas for recorder
• Recorder Stocking Stuffer Game

My favorite from the bundle is the stocking stuffer game — it's kind of like "Feed the Monster": play the rhythm (or note on recorder) and add the present to the stocking. So cute.

KWANZAA

I usually start with a read aloud teaching about the holiday and ask students to share their family's traditions, then we play and sing along to a Kwanzaa song from Quaver.

Don't forget to shop the 20% off sale in my TPT store — everything on sale!

Good luck out there!
Joanna

How Adorable is This?!

I can't stand how cute this is! I printed out this activity and had it sitting on my desk in my classroom and my students were very curious about it!

Piece of Pie: Thanksgiving Rhythm Centers Game

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This "Piece of Pie" activity is a super fun (and different!) way to mix up reviewing and practicing rhythms (quarter, eighth, half notes + quarter rest). Similar to "Feed the Monster," but decked out for Thanksgiving, you split students into small groups, turn the pie cards upside down, and students take turns reading a card and playing the rhythms (body percussion, non-pitched instruments, recorder, ukulele, Orff…). If they play incorrectly, the card goes back in the pile; if they get it right, they place the slice of pie onto the full pie.

You can use this as a centers rotation and set a timer — if they play through all the cards before time is up, have them empty the pie and start over, or print out extra whole pie sheets and see how many rhythm pies they can make!

Happy teaching,
Joanna

Thanksgiving Centers

Happy November! Welcome to the super crunched and harried time in the elementary music classroom. You've just wrapped up Halloween, likely have a pause for Veteran's Day before Thanksgiving break and then are barreling towards concert season and all the December holidays.

If you want to save your sanity, keep your kids learning, and ensure that your students stay engaged, then you should DEFINITELY try Thanksgiving centers. Centers are small group activities that can usually be student run (after explaining directions) that keep kids highly engaged, but tend to be a bit more hands off for the teacher (I love to use this as a time to observe and assess without my students' awareness). I use a timer for rotations (usually about 5-6 minutes per activity).

Celebrate Thanksgiving in the Music Room GROWING BUNDLE

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I've got tons of centers activities for all year round, but have a great selection of ones geared towards Thanksgiving. Check out this Thanksgiving growing bundle (regardless of when you buy, you get any newly added resources for free!) for tons of centers activities!

Stay sane!
Joanna

November Class Favorites

Essentially, I find that October, November, and December are the most overflowing months of the school year. As we head into concert season, I try to strike a balance of preparing for performances and touching on all the celebrations of the season.

DIWALI

I use read-alouds like Binny's Diwali and Let's Celebrate 5 Days of Diwali with my younger grades, along with a Dandiya Stick Dance tutorial and follow-up dance videos.

THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving at Our House (Quaver) is the "Pumpkin Bones" of November — a catchy earworm my students love to sing, with a complex Orff accompaniment I do in bits and pieces.

• Kindness Rhythms & Composition Cards — I like to make the Thanksgiving-Gratitude connection
• Thanksgiving Rhythm Matching Game — perfect for rhythm practice with rhythm sticks
• Thanksgiving Music Math — a quick three page worksheet, perfect for a sub
• Celebrate Thanksgiving in the Music Room GROWING BUNDLE — composition, Kaboom!, Write the Room, all in one

HANUKKAH

Hanukkah falls on a different date every year, so I sometimes teach these lessons in late November even if the holiday itself lands in December. My most requested song of the entire year, hands down, is Puppy for Hanukkah — students ask for it in September, March, May, doesn't matter.

• Hanukkah Rhythms: A Rhythm Matching Game
• Hanukkah Recorder BUNDLE — two classic songs, chunked out by measure

So…what are YOUR plans this November?!

Joanna

October in the Music Room

As I mentioned in a previous blog post, October in the music room is easily one of the best times of the year: routines have been established, trust has been built and it's the perfect time to dive into some meatier activities.

While much of the work in music each year is informed and guided by performance repertoire for concerts, there are several traditions that I carry from one year to the next and October holds many of them. Here are some (not even all!) of the highlights:

In Kindergarten, my students are introduced to Pass the Pumpkin (a passing/hide and seek game that gets students singing in a minor key while feeling the steady beat), Five Batty Bats (a silly song of misunderstanding with spooky non-pitched instruments — sandblocks and a thunderdrum), and Skin and Bones (lights off, shades drawn, full dramatic play).

In First grade, I repeat these favorites but add In the Hall of the Mountain King (Edvard Grieg) — the melody loops 18 times, so we do a "Head Shoulders Knees and Toes" version where one student starts and another joins each time the melody repeats, until the whole class is moving. It's a great way to practice "watching the conductor" and understand tempo and dynamics changes.

In 2nd, 3rd, & 4th grades, students demand the games from earlier years, with new extensions: Orff accompaniments for Pass the Pumpkin, rhythm stick and boomwhacker playalongs for In the Hall of the Mountain King, and xylophone additions for Skin and Bones (complete with octave jumps, borduns, tremolos, and a final "boo!" with a flicker of the lights).

In addition to these favorites, we can't forget about Pumpkin Bones (Quaver) — one of the biggest earworms of the year!

P.S. Don't forget about Hispanic Heritage Month! We read books (Drum Dream Girl is a fave, read in both English and Spanish with added instrumentation), sing songs, and play games — my students are obsessed with Al Citron, a passing game similar to Pass the Pumpkin using a lemon-shaped shaker.

Whew! That's A LOT! Hope your October has been full of fun activities and perhaps you'll find time to check some of these out and add to your class traditions going forward!

Take care,
Joanna

Teaching is Like Cooking

Bear with me a sec: I love to cook. And I'm pretty good — give me a recipe and I can follow it to a tee. Early on, I often used to rule out a recipe if I didn't have a specific ingredient on hand. Nope, can't make that, I don't have any limes. It wasn't until I became a really solid cook that it even occurred to me to swap ingredients and play with a recipe.

After years of teaching, I learned that I don't have to follow a lesson plan exactly how it's written out, but rather, tailor it to fit my and my students' needs. All this to say, when I make products for my TPT store, I rarely design them to be used in one, singular way. I always strive to create versatile activities that are flexible and provide opportunities for extension.

With that said, let's take a look at this Halloween Candy Composition (why this specific resource? Because Halloween is around the corner and your kids will have so much fun doing an activity centered around candy).

Halloween Music Candy Compositions

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You can follow the included instructions to the letter AND: once a student has composed a rhythm, have them play it using body percussion, then transfer to a non-pitched percussion instrument, then move to Orff instruments for melody improvisation and mallet practice. Or take your students' rhythm compositions and use them as a station in centers, having students perform their classmates' compositions.

These suggestions are extensions from one page of this resource and they barely scratch the surface on additional ways to extend this activity. Frankly, this worksheet packet can take you all the way to the beginning of November. And the icing on the cake? It's under 5 bucks.

Ready to see how these resources can work for you and your students? Take a look at my TPT store now and spark some creativity in your classroom! 🌟

Have a great week,
Joanna

Class Favorites: Halloween Edition

I think October might be my favorite month in the music room. Routines are established, trust has been built and it's the perfect time to start with some meatier activities. I've got a long list of greatest hits that I like to touch on this month: In the Hall of the Mountain King, Pumpkin Bones, Skin and Bones, Pass the Flying Pumpkin Round…and many more.

When it comes to independent work, composing, centers, and group digital games, these are my kiddos' hands down favorite activities:

Halloween Candy Compositions

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This print and go, candy composition packet is the PERFECT way to get your kiddos composing music, reading and notating rhythms, practicing performing quarter notes, rests, and eighth notes. The candy theme is a guaranteed hit!

Halloween Write the Room — this activity gets your students up and moving WHILE practicing rhythmic notation, decked out for Halloween and reinforcing quarter and eighth notes. There is an answer key provided, making it a great activity for a non-musical substitute teacher.

Halloween Candy Rhythms: Music Matching Games for Google Slides — no-prep, interactive lessons with two levels of difficulty. With three sets of rhythms per slide, students must match the candy name to its correct rhythm — a great option for the sub tub, no musical knowledge needed.

Pumpkin Themed Treble & Bass Clef Matching Games — using pumpkins divided in two (like a puzzle), students practice and reinforce recognition of notes on the staff. Comes in color and black & white for centers or individual work.

I've got even more Halloween activities for you in my TPT store. Take a look and make your October a hit!

Cheers to a great week,
Joanna

Your kids are going to love this!

Happy Sunday, Music Teachers! 🎶

I'll tell you what: nothing gets my students more immersed in a lesson than when it involves playing a game. So, as a way to hook my students in, ensure on-task behavior, active learning, and high engagement, I created these pumpkin-themed 🎃 note matching games for treble and bass clefs.

The games are designed for students of all levels (introduction, reinforcement, and review) and can be used in centers, as individual work, or an easy option to leave with a sub. The game consists of 12 pumpkins that need to be cut out and cut in half — one side has the note name written out (ex: "Middle C") and the other half has a whole note on the staff (treble or bass, depending on the version). Students simply match the note name to the corresponding note on the staff.

As always, versatility is the name of the game — this activity comes in both color and black & white, allowing you to choose the option that best suits your needs. There's also a pumpkin coloring page at the end for early finishers!

Pumpkin Themed Treble Clef Matching Game

View on TPT →

• Bass Clef Matching Game
• The BUNDLE: Treble and Bass Clef Matching Game

These bad boys are super affordable ($3.25 a pop or under $6 for the bundle) and will have your students focused and fully immersed in learning the note names on the staff. Tap into their autumn excitement and add some pumpkin spice to your lessons!

Cheers to a great week!
Joanna

A game to satisfy any sweet tooth!

The other week, I shared a new, candy rhythm matching game for Google Slides to get your students excited about reading music. Today (you lucky duck, you!), I'm sharing level two AND the BUNDLED version.

The game is simple: each slide has a picture of candy (helpful for your beginning readers) along with its name. Next to the name and picture of the candy are three different rhythms. Match the rhythm to the candy and see if you got it right! If you did, there will be a slide telling you how awesome you are and sends you on to another candy. If you pick the wrong rhythm, it sends you back with a gentle message to give it another go.

Level one is perfect for younger learners or review for your more advanced students. The phrases are short and focus on quarter and eighth notes + quarter rest. Level two has everything awesome from the original game, but takes it up a notch with longer phrases and more complex rhythms that use half, quarter, eighth and sixteenth notes + quarter rest. The bundle is where you go to snag it all and save some moola!

Now, before you come at me saying you love the idea, but you aren't allowed to do any Halloween activities at your school, I've got you completely taken care of! You can grab the same versions of this game, but without any mention or symbols of Halloween:

• Candy Rhythms Level One
• Candy Rhythms Level Two
• Candy Rhythms BUNDLE

These games will satisfy any sweet tooth and have your students drooling and begging to play over and over again!

Happy October!
Joanna

Halloween Candy Rhythms Match (A Google Slides Game)

Trick or Treat! 👻 It's getting to that time of year again! Halloween is just around the corner, and I'm so excited to share my new Halloween Candy Rhythms Matching Game for Google Slides with you! 🍬

This no-prep, interactive music lesson is the perfect way to get your class in the Halloween spirit and teach them some essential music skills at the same time. With 16 different slides featuring popular candy names, students must match the candy to its correct rhythm using quarter and eighth notes + quarter rest. This activity is guaranteed to hook your students in and will likely lead to some great debates about favorite candies. 🍭🍫

You could easily extend the lesson by having students perform the rhythms on classroom instruments (Orff, non-pitched percussion, recorder, ukulele, etc.) after you've practiced and played. Ideas for how to use it: as a warm-up activity, an assessment tool, a center activity, or a sub activity (no musical knowledge needed!).

No matter how you choose to use it, the Halloween Candy Rhythms Matching Game is sure to hook your students in while teaching these important concepts. So grab your copy today and get ready for some spooky musical fun!

Enjoy the sweets!
Joanna

Rockstar!

I don't know about you, but I'm not a big fan of rules that emphasize everything you are not supposed to do. "No shouting. No hitting. No running." No, thank you.

Instead, I try to create a supportive class environment and build a community that feels safe and welcoming to all my students. Cue the "Rockstar" entrance — a system I developed years ago that my kiddos have really taken to.

At the front of the room is a poster that says "Rockstar Rules." I remind them what it takes to be a rockstar at the beginning of class and announce who the rockstar is at the end. Before they leave, the rockstar gets to put a sticker on the class chart, push the "rockstar button," and cut to the front of the line. When the whole class completes the chart, they get a celebration.

What does it take to be a "Rockstar"?

1. Work hard — everyone's "work hard" looks different, and I'm looking for someone doing their hard work.
2. Be kind to my classmates and teacher — the teacher part is important! I'm human too.
3. Listen to and follow directions — a two-parter: listen, then do the thing.
4. Raise my hand and wait to be called on — another two-parter: raise it, then wait for your turn.
5. Respect all instruments — I point to my oldest instrument and ask them to guess its age, then remind them that respecting our instruments is why we get to keep nice things.

Tried and True Tips: I announce the rockstar as students are lining up (they get quiet fast!). I mark who the rockstar is on my calendar so I know who's had it and try to cycle through the group. Sometimes we go for a "group rockstar" goal, and I let them help plan the celebration.

There you have it: Rockstar. I keep it short and I keep it consistent. Sure, there are a lot of other rules I could throw at them, but these five are my basics for creating the community that I want to foster.

Don't forget to subscribe to emails for teaching tips, new product drops, and much more!
Joanna

Back to School: Student Autonomy in the Elementary Music Room

Alright, so, if you're here, you're either already back in school or gearing up for the big day. Regardless, you might be thinking about how to structure your classroom routines.

Personally, I am a big believer of teaching my students to have autonomy in the music room. I want them to have appropriate independence so that they are not relying on me to do everything for them. Kids love having jobs, setting up/putting things away, and it's so good for them to realize that, regardless of their age, they can contribute to our class community in lots of different ways.

This can be hard for music teachers — we run everything all the time. We are octopuses! Constantly orchestrating all things. Which is why it's SO important to give them autonomy where you can in the music room.

So, what does that look like? Here are a few things I focus on, particularly during the beginning weeks of school:

• Orff Instruments — teach them how to properly take bars in and out (pinch top and bottom, lift straight up without wiggling pins, place removed bar leaning away from you for easy cleanup)
• Safely transport instruments around the room — carrying position, resting vs. playing position, how many people are required to move a larger instrument
• How to take recorders in and out of their assigned spots (and why it matters — germs!)
• Taking ukes on and off the wall (numbered spots, behind the stopper so they don't fall)

Once my students know how to do these things, it makes setup/cleanup and transitions so much more efficient AND they are so proud to have been helpful.

So, as you head back to school, think about ways that you can hand off some of the classroom load to your students and see how it goes!

Take care,
Joanna

Back to School SALE!

This post refers to a limited-time TPT storewide sale that has since ended — kept here for the archive.

Hiya music teachers! It's been a minute since I've posted (thoroughly summering over here), so I wanted to (re)introduce myself AND tell you about the amazing (and infrequent!) sale happening right now in my TPT store.

I'm a veteran music teacher heading into my 20th year(!!!) and recently started a TPT store to help elementary music teachers from around the globe find resources that are fun, engaging, tested (yup — I've used them!), and guaranteed to make your life easier and your students excited to learn.

I intentionally design my resources with versatility and flexibility in mind. They inspire creativity, build confidence, foster a love of music, and fill your classroom with joy. I've got digital, low-prep, no-prep, centers, games, curriculums for recorder & ukulele, Orff, decor and so much more!

So, as we march back to school, take advantage of this sale today and tomorrow (they really don't happen that often on TPT) and save 25% on everything! It's a great opportunity to save on bigger resources like growing bundles and recorder/ukulele curriculums.

Head over to my TPT store now, Joanna Teaches Music, and get ready to make some music magic!

Don't forget to sign up for my email list! Cheers to the new year!!
Joanna

Is it okay to NOT rehearse all the time before a performance?

We are heavy into concert prep for our upcoming performances and while I could spend every minute of class exclusively rehearsing for their concert, I don't like to. My students are awesome and will happily do the work the whole period, but I want them to know, it's okay to get to a certain spot and then trust yourself. We keep everything "fresh and dusted off" and then, assuming things are looking and sounding good, we move on to other activities.

By doing this, I'm signaling to them to trust the process, the work they've put in all semester, and that they know what they're doing. There can be so much angst to get everything "perfect" and "drill," but in my 20 years of teaching music, any final performance I've done would have been equally as strong if the performance would have occurred a few weeks earlier.

So, to that end, I like to maintain prep-mode, but not overdo it. And after we run pieces or spots of songs that need work, I like to give them choice. Not only are they more likely to stay engaged, but they are telling me what works — a great way to self-assess and take notes for future kids.

Here are some activities that have been suggested by my students recently: Radio, Let's Go; Sevens (Wellerman is a fave); Grow the Tree; Who's That; Follow the Leader; Treble Clef or Music Symbol Uno; Write the Room; Music Genres; Instrument Families; and Recorder Games.

So, what do you think? Would you ever do something like this? What would happen if you did?

Joanna

It's May!

Hey there music teachers! I'm so excited to share some fabulous activities for May with you all!

I always love incorporating small group games into my lessons to keep things fun and exciting (especially as the kiddos are suffering from a little spring fever — easier to embrace it and join in than try to fight it!). Whether we're working on rhythm or melody, playing in a game format is always a hit.

Here are some of my favorites:

• Doggie, Doggie — I play the traditional game, but add an instrument rotation as the person in the middle moves through metallophone, xylophone, and maracas. There's also a recorder version and a matching game for centers.
• Go Fish — loads of fun, and many kids haven't even played it before. Level 1 or Level 2.
• OO-NO (an Uno-inspired game) — the clear winner in my recent sales, with Treble Clef, Bass Clef, and Music Symbol versions.
• Write the Room — always a hit (my 2nd graders' favorite), and a great way to review and assess as the year winds down.
• Dice activities like Roll a Rhythm and Roll a Note.

Happy May, and let's keep the music playing!
Joanna

Play Ball! Teach the Note Names in Treble Clef

It's finally spring (and starting to feel like it) and my kiddos are all about spring training and gearing up for baseball season. So, in an effort to connect what we're doing in class to topics they're naturally curious and excited about, I created this "Play Ball" Treble Clef Note Name activity.

Play Ball! A Treble Clef Matching Activity

View on TPT →

There are 12 cards, each with a baseball glove + note on the staff printed on it, and a separate page of baseballs with each note name. You could use this as a centers rotation or for whole-class instruction. It's simple and is also a great activity to leave with a sub.

Whole Class Instruction: print a packet for each student, have them cut out the baseballs and glue/tape them to the matching glove (Middle C–High G). At the end, they have a collection of "Baseball Cards" to take home.

Centers: print a single copy, laminate, and use velcro stickers to attach cards and baseballs for a repeatable matching game.

Either way, if you want to extend, have them play the notes on a pitched instrument. There's even a "Play Ball" coloring page for quiet work or early finishers.

Joanna

Work Smarter, Not Harder

I don't know if your school is like mine, but I am the only elementary music teacher — that means my students have me every year from Kindergarten through Fourth grade. Beyond being very familiar with their learning styles, strengths, and challenges, they get to know me and how things operate in my classroom too. Kids appreciate repetition — they ask to sing songs from the past and play games from previous years.

Teaching elementary music is not like any other class — music teachers are often on and running class the entire time: conducting, accompanying, singing, playing. Which is why it's so exciting when you find an activity that reinforces concepts, but that the students can run on their own!

Enter: Kaboom!

This is one of my students' favorite games. I use different versions at all grade levels — which means: I teach it once and play often. The rules are always the same, but the focus, concepts, and levels change for each grade, so I can pull it out at any time — five minutes left, sub-plans, centers rotation, assessment, quiet work.

I use TONS of versions of Kaboom!: Rhythm (Levels 1-3), Solfege, Treble and Bass Clef Note Names, Recorder, Ukulele, Instrument identification, and Music Symbol. There's also a large, expanding Kaboom! bundle with 16 different versions.

A KABOOM Bundle! 16 Versions in One

View on TPT →

So, if you are like me and want to teach how to play a game once and then have your students know the drill for the years to come, go take a look and think about turning your classroom into a class-Kaboom!

Joanna

Reinforcing A & C on Soprano Recorder

Throughout my teaching career, I have played around with different ways of introducing notes on recorder. I've gone the BAG route, and that can be great, but sometimes I like to start with A & C to have it connect to "mi-so" and Solfege. There are benefits to each approach, depending on the group of kids and other repertoire we're working on.

This year, I started with A & C. One of the bonuses to introducing notes this way is that it lends itself so easily to adding Orff instrument extensions and creates opportunities to work in small groups (which is so helpful with recorder — it can be hard for kids to hear when everyone plays at once).

When we do A & C, I can pick a song they know from the past (ex: "Apple Tree") so they're already familiar with the melody and rhythm patterns. One of my favorite ways to work on finger positions for A & C is with the song "Off to the Zoo."

Rockin' Recorders Curriculum

View on TPT →

You can find this activity in my "Rockin' Recorders" Curriculum (Google Slides and PDF versions available). And if you're looking for some recorder classroom decor, I have three different styles of recorder finger charts to choose from: Rainbow Dots, Space Themed, and Arctic.

Joanna

An Elementary Music Classroom Must Have

If you want to transform your teaching and elevate the classroom experience for your students then you need to think about incorporating center activities into your repertoire.

Adding music centers (sometimes called stations) into my lessons has made a significant and positive impact in my classes. First, my students love them, which, in turn, automatically increases engagement. Second, it's an outstanding way for me to assess each child (without their awareness—automatically removing any pressure or anxiety).

What are centers? Centers are work-stations where students spend a few minutes focusing on a skill or content area before moving on to another one.

Why are they so awesome?

• Activities in centers can be varied and therefore be helpful for differentiation — some kids benefit from smaller, group work to solidify understanding, some learn better visually, some need more opportunities for practice and repetition than whole-class instruction allows, and some can display their understanding through a game, but not a written activity (and vice versa).
• They increase engagement — unlike with whole-class instruction, kids can't hide; the nature of small group work requires everyone's participation, and they're usually pretty fun (perfect time to break out the games!).
• Centers create a change in class routines and can get you through harder moments of the year or during a performance lull where you want to emphasize concepts you can't always focus on.
• They can be a great reward to work towards as a whole class goal.
• Centers can help with classroom management (students are busy the whole time).
• Centers teach you, the teacher, about your students: who is more resilient? Who needs more encouragement when faced with a challenge? Who stands out as a leader or a problem solver? Who did you think really understood something, but was actually blending in and needs more support? What do your students need to focus on and practice?

I could go on, but I think that's a good start as to why and how centers are beneficial to your students and can make your teaching more impactful.

I'm sold on centers! What are center activities I can use and where can I find them?

I'm so glad you asked! Center activities can vary depending on what skill you want to emphasize and how loud/quiet you want the day to be! I like to have a blend: noisy/quiet, game/writing, composing/playing, small-group/individual work.

If you're ready to bring the joy of centers into your classroom and see the magic unfold before your eyes, I've got lots of options for you! These are all bundled resources (lots of activities included) which is the best bang for your buck, but you can purchase any product individually.

• The Treble Clef Bundle
• A KABOOM! Bundle
• A Year of Write the Rooms
• Music Centers
• Recorder Rhythms

Joanna

Teaching "A" on Soprano Recorder

I have a different trick that I like to use when I introduce each note on the recorder. I like to start with "A" (controversial, I know…all you BAG folks, just hear me out–you'll see why!). The other day, one of my students said, "Ms. Hughes, you're so clever!" and it made me chuckle. I love that she picked up on my technique and that she was coming to class curious about what the next note and gimmick to remember it would be.

I've been teaching music a long time and these tricks really work and deeply resonate with the kids.

Rockin' Recorders Curriculum

View on TPT →

I made an entire "Rockin' Recorders" curriculum that takes you step by step through each note on the recorder. You can choose between two formats (same curriculum): PDF and Google Slides to suit your preference.

Joanna

How to easily add instruments to your lessons

I use Orff and non-pitched instruments in my classes all the time—they are a great way to turn something simple (a short phrase, student compositions…) into larger class works.

For example, I read a picture book (often connected to something happening in another class of theirs—science, SEL, social studies) and highlight a key theme. With a prompt, students create several short word chains (often 4 beats) and then they play the phrase(s) on instruments during page turns. Boom! Story brought to life, important theme from book highlighted, skills developed, and a class piece (integrated within the broader curriculum) to share.

If you're concerned that you don't know how to do this, I have a foolproof, scaffolded process where kids quickly find success. This formula, if you will, works with nearly every activity.

Let's look at a stand alone song (not a student composition or story), for example, "Go 'Round the Mountain"—this piece is a great way to teach and reinforce Mi-Re-Do.

1. Teach the song by rote (using solfege signs, if you choose)
2. Add body percussion on specific words
3. Transfer those body percussion patterns onto Orff and non-pitched instruments (by the time you add the instruments, they have the song, word patterns, and movements in their brains and bodies)
4. Play several times—I typically add a repeat if it's a short song and have them play each instrumental part 3-4 times before they rotate to a new instrument and part. They get comfortable with their part and can then work on listening to the group at large, follow the conductor, work on dynamics, etc. It's a great way to expose them to a variety of instruments, patterns and teach them how to practice.

I like to do this specific song with my 2nd graders in the 2nd half of the year. After a day on instruments, I introduce harmony (do-do-mi) and extend the activity.

Want to give it a try, but need a little more guidance? I got you covered—check out "The Cookie Song"—you can attach it to the book "The Doorbell Rang" or simply play the game on its own.

Joanna

The Ultimate Treble Clef Bundle!

🎶🎵 Calling all elementary music teachers! 🎵🎶

Teaching note names in the treble clef just got a whole lot more fun thanks to my latest BUNDLE! 🎉 From no-prep printable worksheets to Google Slides games and center activities, this bundle has it all. 💻📝

The Treble Clef Bundle!

View on TPT →

Featuring FIVE tried and tested products that students adore, you won't want to miss out on these activities:

🎲 Treble Clef Dice Activity for Centers
💥 Treble Clef Kaboom!
🎮 Google Slides Treble Clef Note Name Match Game
🍩 Donut Themed Treble Clef Note Names: No-Prep Worksheet Packet
⚾️ Play Ball! A Treble Clef Matching Activity

Don't just take my word for it - give it a go and watch your students have a blast learning the treble clef note names. 🤩

Joanna

Roll a Rhythm

I am so excited about this new product line! I have been trying to create activities that are geared towards centers and this one fits the bill. It's a low-prep activity with little setup/cleanup and it's a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

Here's how it works:

• Give each student/group a die
• Taking turns, they roll and then play the rhythm that matches the number on their die
• They can play their rhythm using body percussion, on non-pitched instruments, Orff instruments set up in a pentatonic scale, a specific note on recorder…sky's the limit!
• You can leave it there OR extend with the composition & notation pages where students create their own four measure piece. They roll the die four times and notate the matching rhythm(s)
• Once they have their four-measure piece they can practice and perform their piece!

I have created Level One (quarter & eighth notes + quarter rest) and Level Two (half, quarter & eighth notes + quarter rest) versions for you to differentiate, use with multiple grades or level up.

Each level includes: four different roll a rhythm pages with quarter, half and eighth notes + quarter rest, and two roll a rhythm composition pages.

I'm telling you: this activity is a blast! It's an engaging, hands-on way for students to develop and strengthen their musical skills. It's a must-have resource for every elementary music teacher!

• Roll a Rhythm Level 1
• Roll a Rhythm Level 2

Joanna

Rockin' Recorders

This post's full text couldn't be pulled over yet (the source page kept timing out) — for now, here's the original while we finish migrating it:

Read the original post →

Sweetheart Sale

This post refers to a limited-time TPT storewide sale that has since ended — kept here for the archive.

Get Ready to Rock Your Music Classroom with 20% Off EVERYTHING in my TPT store!

Yes, you read that right! I'm throwing a sweetheart of a sale for you, so stock up on all your favorite elementary music lessons, activities, games and more! Don't miss out on this opportunity to grab all the resources you need to take your music classroom to the next level.

Whether you're a seasoned music teacher or just starting out, my store has something for everyone. With a wide range of resources designed with teacher flexibility and student differentiation in mind, you can find lessons, games and activities guaranteed to delight, engage and inspire your students.

But don't wait—this deal only lasts from February 7th to 8th! Go ahead a make the most of this exclusive sale!

Joanna

Valentine's Day

Apparently, on Jan. 1, it's "officially" Valentine's Day (according to every store I've been to). I, however, refuse to embrace it until Feb. 1. That said, it's now, undeniably, Valentine's Day.

Teachers' opinions on celebrating Valentine's Day in elementary schools is varied, to say the least. In my school, Valentine's always falls during an unusual week where we're in school, but not in regular classes, so I tend to miss the craziness that surrounds the actual day. That said, I do like infusing my classroom with kindness and warmth and like to do activities that keep that at the forefront. If you're anti-Valentine's, but pro-treating people with kindness, check out these Kindness Rhythms and Composition Cards. I like to pair this activity with the book, "Have You Filled a Bucket Today."

On to Valentine's Day!

• This first one is a FREEBIE! Yup, you read that right: FREE! And, it's a good one. Like an 18 page kinda good one. You're welcome! Valentine's Rhythms: Notation and Composition Activities
• This Valentine's Day Google Slides Game is a rhythm match. I work at a K-12 school and like to bring in some "big kids" and have a friendly competition between my students and, say, the 10th graders. Who can read and play the rhythms? Hint: it's usually the littles… ;p
• Have you ever played Kaboom? These two levels are decked out for Valentine's Day: Level 1 and Level 2
• Write the Room is another class staple: Level 1 and Level 2
• This song on recorder is a bop! Love Somebody (BAGCD): Google Slides Lesson
• Lastly, my Valentine's Day Music Composition Packet can take you far. This activity is also great to leave with a sub!

Hope these help your February start off with a bang!

PS! Don't forget–on February 7-8 I'm throwing a SALE! EVERYTHING in my TPT store will be 20% off, so stock up!

Take care,
Joanna

The Snowy Day

We've almost done it–we are nearly through January! Personally, I find January to be a mixed bag: it's colder and darker and the school year feels long. BUT, on the other hand, winter concerts are out of the way and I get to dive into some really fun projects that focus on bigger concepts.

The book "The Snowy Day" is an absolute favorite of mine and is perfect to use in these colder, winter months. I like to read the story and have the kids just sit and listen the first time. The next time, they get to act out (pantomime!) all of Peter's adventures ("Crunch, crunch crunch. His feet sank into the snow" is a favorite moment).

The Snowy Day: A Rhythm Matching Game

View on TPT →

Then, having introduced rhythms earlier in the year, we play this game. In this Google Slides game, students click on the number (1, 2, or 3) with the rhythm that matches the phrase from the book. It immediately tells them if they are correct or not.

To make it more exciting, we use instruments to play all the rhythms. I like to play by projecting on the board and playing it as a whole group. Students can call out the numbers or hold up and show me on their fingers (answer choices are 1, 2, or 3) and I can notate who is correct (this is a great way to assess without their awareness).

I can't begin to tell you how much fun they have with this game–and there is ZERO PREP on your part!

If you're already feeling that January is in the rear view and you're looking towards Valentine's Day, I've got you covered — check my TPT store for Valentine's Day rhythm matching, Write the Room, KABOOM, and composition activities!

Stay warm, folks!
Joanna

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